Rim expander and contractor



R. F. MCKENZIE.

RIM EXPANDER AND CONTRACTOR.

) APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, [9:22.

Patented Nov. 7,, fr 922;

Patented Nov. "7,

ll 7 own A E i. 1111 L an" it at GILBERT G. WILSON, OF

QCOTCIS'VILLE, KENTUCEiY.

HIM EXPANDEB, AND CUNTEACTOR.

- I Application filed March 17, 1922. Serial No. 52 1-,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1. ROBERT l. lllClZENZHC, acitizen or the United States, residing at Scottsville, in the county ofAllen, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in liim Expanders and Contractors; and I do hereby declarethe following to be. a full, cl ar. and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rims andparticularly to demountable tire rims.

One object of the invention is to provide means for easily and quicklyopening or closing a split tire rim.

Another object is to provide a device for movably connecting the ends ofa split tire rim, and which is adapted to be operated by a key to openor close the split, without the use of hammers, screwdrivers. or othertools which bend. knick. or otherwise damage the rim.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a rim equippedwith'the invention, the *rim being shown, in closed position and thefolly in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation oi the same partly in section showing therim open.

Figure 3 is a plan view,-looking toward the inner face of the splitportion of the rim, the rim being closed.

Figure 4 is a View similar to that shown in Figure 2, but showing amodification wherein the closing tongue is "formed on the stem of themember 15'.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents a tirerim, of the demountable type, which is split, with one end formed withthe central longitudinal tongue 11, for engagement in the recess ornotch 12,.in the other end, of the rim.-. 0n the first end, which isdesignated A. there is mounted a pivoted button 13, for engagement bythe end B, to hold the ends from springing past each other. after having been properly closed.

Dn the inner face of the end A there are formed the pair of transverselyaligneds apertm'ed lugs l l, and rotatably supported". in the aperturesof the lugs are the ends the head of the "l shaped member The -leg'ot'the l' shapedmember 15 adjacent its outer end is disposed between asimilar pair oi lugs 16, formed on the end B, at opposite sides of therecess ii, a pivot pin 17 being disposed through these lugs and the leg.lln one.end of the head of the T-shaped member 15 there is formed anangular socket 18 for $5 the reception of the angular end of the. key19.

When the rim is to be opened, to permit the removal of a tire therefrom,the key is placed in the socket 18,.and by grasping the transverse heador handle 19, of the key, and rotating the key, the T-shaped member 15will be turned in the lugs 14:, with the result that the outer end ofthe leg of said member will spring the end ll, of the rim, inwardly pastthe end A, when the rim will contract to permit the tire being removed.After the tire has been replaced on the rim, the key is again used toturn the member 15 in the opposite direction, with the result that theends A and'B will be moved into abutting relation, after which thebutton 1?) is rotated to engage with and hold the ends against movement.

By this construction all danger oi injuring the rim and the tire isobviated. as no tools are used which would batter the rim, or slip intothe tire casing and puncture the inner tube.

l urthermore, the lugs and the T-shaped W member are adapted to seat ina depression in the outer face of the wheel telly, so that the tire rimwill be held against creeping, as clearly seen at 10, in Figure 1.

In Figure 41 there is shown a modification of the inventinn, wherein thetongue 11, for closing the recess or opening 12, is formed integrallywith the outer end'oi the stem oi? the T-shaped member 15'. It vill benoted that this tongue 11' extends longitudinally 10o from the end ofthe stem of the T-shaped. member, opposite to thatof the key socket endof the stem. B this construction, when the rim is opened, as shown inFigure l. the

tongue 11 will withinthe rim, and thus 3105 be removed from danger ofbeing brolren off.

'What is claimed isl. A demountable rim comprising a split pivotallyconnected to ring having a ring having an elongated recess in one end, a

link pivotally connecting the ends of the ring, and closing the saidrecess'upon closing movement of the ends of the ring.

4, A demountable rim comprising a split means carried by the link forring having a recess in one end, anopening and closing link pivotallyconnected to the ends of the ring, and a tongue for closing the recessWhen'the ring ends engage.

5. A demountable rim comprising a transversely split ring having anelongated recess in one end, spaced ears carried by the inner face ofeach end of the rim, a link pivotally connected to the ears, one end ofthe link having a key receiving socket, and a longitudinally extendingelongated tongue arranged to enter and close said recess when the rimends are engaged.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature,in the presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT F. MCKENZIE.

Witnesses:

HJC. DIXON, R. R. PITCHFORD.

